Group One Sprinter in the Making

Tara Madgwick - Sunday June 24
The one thing missing on the resume of Widden Stud's quiet achiever Nicconi is a Group I winner, but that looks certain to change next season when we see the best of Nature Strip.

Nature Strip - image Grant CourtneyHaving his first start for new trainer Darren Weir at Flemington on Saturday, brilliant three year-old Nature Strip lugged 60.5 kg to a scintillating four and a half length win in the open three year-old event over 1100 metres.

He hit the wire in a time of 1:02.26. That was just 0.11s outside the 1100-metre course record set by Loveyamadly in 2013 when she raced on a Good 3, while Nature Strip raced on a Soft 5.

Weir has only had the horse six weeks after early stints with Caulfield trainers Robert Smerdon, Robert Hickmott and John Sadler and thanked those trainers for shaping a ready-made star.

"They did all the hard work on this horse and then he came to me," Weir said. "I got the horse at the right time. I haven't improved him. He's just a really good horse.

"It looked like he was playing with them and enjoying it so that's a really good sign.

"I just wanted to see him do it because there's such a hype on him. Jarrod (McLean) who I regard as a great mate and great for my stable, he said 'He's a machine'.

Nicconi"He works with all my good horses and he knows them and he said 'Well, this one's a beauty'."

Passed in at the 2016 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Golden Grove Stud, Nature Strip has now won five of eight starts earning over $400,000 in prizemoney.

Bred by Golden Grove, Nature Strip is a half-brother to stakes-winner The Barrister from Group III winning Desert Sun (GB) mare Strikeline.

Nicconi covered 200 plus books of mares in his past two seasons and has had a fee rise this spring to $24,750 and is filling fast.

Widden based sires found Flemington a happy hunting ground on Saturday with smart Sebring two year-old Good 'n' Fast taking out the juvenile event and classy Star Witness stayer Lycurgus scoring his sixth win to lift his prizemoney total in excess of $380,000.


Advertisment
More Reading...
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Magic Millions 2025 Magazine Online
The 2025 Magic Millions magazine is now online with a great mix of gallery images, editorial and vendor profilies.
Cambridge Stud News
It’s been the spring that keeps giving for Cambridge Stud and it’s not over yet.
Luberon Heads Cambridge Stud Saturday Charge
Lance Noble will attempt to add to a strong run of spring form for Cambridge Stud when he sends out five well-credentialled runners in Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s black and gold colours at Pukekohe on Saturday.
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.
$2,000 Gavelhouse Bargain Keeps on Winning!
The Grey Goose continued to belie her purchase price last start when recording her fifth win at Wingatui, bringing her career earnings to more than $225,000.
Halo Racing Reduction features in November (Late) catalogue
Shares in reigning G1 Caulfield Cup champion Duke de Sessa, G1 Toorak Hcp winner Attrition and tomorrow’s G1 Railway Stakes favourite Light Infantry Man headline an exciting Inglis Digital November (Late) Online Sale.
Best On Breeding
The cerise, white crossed sashes and black cap of Bob Peters, Peter's Investments, may not be the once dominant force they have been for decades in Western Australian racing, but they are far from finished.
Pinhook Winners 2024 NZB Ready to Run – Churchill Colt the Star
A record breaking NZB Ready to Run Sale this week at Karaka delivered plenty of pinhook success with 18 two year-olds selling for $300,000 or more above their yearling purchase price, so let’s take a look at some of the best of them.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.